Controller for motor driven printing presses and the like



y 1941- c. P. FELDHAUSEN 2,241,589

CONTROLLER FOR MOTOR DRIVEN PRINTING PRESSES AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 21, 1938 I SAI STOP ZCR INCH ON scn OFF SAFE O O {E 15 16 a; g? ,4 I Z4 O 34 STOP h:

1 10F 20 E Lp Z6 fi g 25 i 50 I 2i SAFE Q Qucam 50 51 Q fififi 50 PL za Patented ay 13, 194i ire QUNTRGLLER FOR MOTOR DRIVEN PRINT- ING PRE'SSEIS AND THE Cyril P. Feldhausen, Wauwatosa, Wis., assignor to Cutler-Hammer, Inc., Milwaukee, Wis a corporation of Delaware Application November '21, r1938, ;SerialNo. '2 l1,590

i lCiairns. C1 periodas signaling may be desired. With such provision it will be apparent that control for This invention relates'to controllers for motor driven printing presses and other machines, and more particularly to controllers embodying signaling means.

Controllers for large printing presses are com monly required to afford signaling sufficiently in advance of starting, whether for inching or running, to enable the workmen who may be working on the press to protect themselves. Only a short signaling period is necessary and it is often important to avoid needless delay in starting. Also it is highly desirable that the press be set in operation immediately following a given manipulation of the controller so that the operator may inch with greater facility and accuracy than V where the starting manipulation of the controller only becomes effective after the lapse of a predetermined time interval provided for safety.

The present invention has among its objects to provide a controller affording the protection aforementioned and at the same time affording the aforementioned and other desirable operating characteristics.

Another object is toprovide a controller not only having improved operating characteristics but having also relative simplicity of construction and of wiring.

Another object is to provide a controller affording the aforementioned safe feature and improved operating characteristics as functions of manipulation in a convenient and natural way of certain of the push button switches now commonly employed in printing press controllers.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear.

In accordance with the present invention as applied to a printing press drive having a relatively small motor for inching and slow speed running and a relatively large motor for high speed running, it is proposed to equip the controller with the usual control instrumentalities including separate push button switches for inching and running. In accordance with a preferred form of the invention it is proposed to provide means whereby when the press is stopped after inching or running the inching and running push button switches are rendered ineffective for starting when first depressed, but when first depressed are eifective independently of one another to cause operation of signaling means preferably both visual and audible. It is further proposed to have such signaling means remain effective independently of the depressed push button and then to enable immediate starting by releasing and again depressing the same push button for inching or running,according to theselection of push buttons. It is proposed to have the signaling terminate with starting of the press, subject, however, to serwlce at will during running by depressing the inch button during such inching and running may be effected through the instrumentalities heretofore commonly employed therefor and in the same manner except that the inch button or the on button, as the case'may be, must be depressed twice, starting of the press immediately following the second depression" of the button. Of course recitation of these specific proposals is not to be regarded as limiting the 3 present invention thereto or as setting forth in full the desirable operating characteristics .con-

templated. V

One embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, the controller therein shown being designed for'a printing press these two figures being in horizontal alignment,

and Fig. 2 showing vertically aligned each coil and its respective contacts, and a Fig. 3 shows schematically certain switches of Fig. 1 and associated contacts also shown in Fig.

. 1 but not in Fig. 2.

First referring to- Fig. 2, it will be observed that the controller involves among other switches a large motor switch LM and a number of relay having contacts as follows:

LM having normally closed contacts I and normally open contacts 2. SAI having normally closed contacts 3 and normally open contacts 4 and 5. a Stop having normally closed contacts i and normally open contacts 8, 9, i0 and I i.

ZCR having normally closed contacts i2 and normally open contacts. I 3 and; l 4. Inch, having normally closed contacts 15 and normally open contacts I1 and i8. On having normally open contacts 23 .and 2 i Reset having normally open contacts 23 and 24. SCRhaving normally open'contacts 25 and 26. Off having normally open contacts 21.

Safe having normally closed contacts 29 and normally open contacts 33.

to control the circuit of the small motor of the press drive. As will be understood, the press drive may comprise either D. C. or A. C. motors, whereas it is assumed that the motors are A. C. and of the three phase type, wherefore both switches are shown as of the triple pole type.

The system illustrated comprises in addition to the aforementioned switches and relays a crosshead type controller 35 to be operated by a pilot motor M having an armature a and series field windings f and f to be excited selectively to effect reverse operations of the motor and hence reverse operations of the crosshead 36 of controller 35. Use of such a crosshead type of controller for a double motor drive for printing presses whether A. C. or D. C. has been common practice for such a long period that both the motor connections and resistances have been omitted,

the crosshead controller being shown only as provided with those connections required for the LM and SM switches and the pilot motor. As will be understood, the crosshead has a position-shown as its extreme down position-in which it enables the SM switch to be energized for inching, whereas said crosshead is movable from such position through the medium of the pilot motor M to other positions first to establish running connections for the small motor and then to start the large motor and to regulate the speed of the latter.

The pilot motor M is controllable for shifting of the crosshead 36 to selected positions through the medium of the aforementioned on and off relays which in turn are controllable by on and off push button switches 31 and 38 shown and so labeled in Fig. 1.

Further referring to Fig. 1, the same also shows an inch push button switch 39, a stop push button switch 40 and a safe push button switch 4|, which respectively control the correspondingly marked relay coils of Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 1 further shows the usual limit switches 42, 43, 44 for the crosshead controller and contacts 45 and 46.

The contacts 45 and 46 are operatively associated with the switches SM and LM as depicted in Fig, 3. The contacts 45 are normally open while contacts 46 are normally closed and are jointly operable by either switch SM or switch LM. The arrangement is such that response of either switch closes contacts 45 and opens contacts 46.

The signaling means shown in Fig. 1 comprises lamps controlled by a flasher relay 5|, and also a bell 52. The flasher and the bell are controlled by contacts of the reset relay.

Lamps 53 provide a safe indication, these lamps being controlled by the safe relay.

To inch the press when the crosshead 36 is in the position shown and when all of the switches and relays are deenergized, the inch button 39 is depressed, released, again depressed and again released. The operation is very simple and expe ditious, but so many circuits are involved that the cycle will be described in four steps:

(a) When the inch push button switch 39 is depressed it connects the coil of relay 2CR across lines L and L through the normally closed contacts 29 of the safe relay. The relay 2GB. is thus rendered responsive and through its contacts l3 connects the coil 'of the reset relay across lines L -L through the normally closed contacts 3 of relay SAI and the normally closed contacts 29 of the safe relay. The reset relay is thus rendered responsive and through its contacts 23 completes the circuit of the bell Hand of the relay 5! for signaling. Continued signaling independent of the inc push button is provided for by reason of the fact that the reset relay upon responding energizes the stop relay which maintains itself and also maintains the circuit of the reset relay. More specifically the coil of the stop relay is connected across lines L ---L through resistance R by the contacts 24 of the now energized reset relay and the stop relay in responding completes a maintaining circuit for itself through its contacts 16 and a maintaining circuit through its contacts 9 for the reset relay. Thus the inch button may be released while the signaling continues.

(b) Release of the inch button interrupts the circuit of the coil of relay ZCR. and said relay through its contacts I2 connects the coil of relay 3CR across lines L L through the contacts 8 of the now closed stop relay and through the contacts 29 of the safe relay. The relay 3GB is thus rendered responsive and through its contacts 26 connects the coil of the inch relay to the inch push button switch 39.

(c) The second depression of the inch push button switch thus connects the coil of the inch relay across lines L L through the contacts 26 of relay 30R. and contacts 29 of the safe relay. This renders the inch relay responsive and its contacts l8 connect the coil of switch SM across lines U-L through the contacts ll of the now closed stop relay. Switch SM upon responding starts the small motor for inching subject to stopping by release of the inch push button switch. In the meantime the inch relay through its contacts I! has connected the coil of relay SAI across lines L -L and said relay SAI through its contacts 5 has established for itself a maintaining circuit. Also the relay SAI in responding has through its contacts 3 dropped out the reset relay, stopping signaling.

(d) When the inch button is released following an inching operation it deenergizes the inch relay which in turn deenergizes the SM switch, thus effecting disconnection of the small motor. Also the inch relay in dropping out effects through reclosure of its contacts [6 shortcircuiting of the coil of the stop relay, this short-circuit extending through the now closed contacts 4 of relay SAI, contacts l6 of said inch relay and contacts 46 which are reclosed upon opening of the SM switch. Hence the stop relay is caused to drop out, and this relay through its contacts II disconnects the coil of relay SAI and through its contacts 8 disconnects the coil of relay 30R. Thus to effect further inching of the press the aforedescribed cycle must be repeated. 1

To run the press the on push button switch 3'! is depressed, released, again depressed and again released when the desired speed setting has been obtained and this cycle also will be described in steps, it being assumed that the several switches and relays occupy the respective positions illustrated in Fig. 1:

((1) Depression of the on push button switch 37 connects the coil of the on relay across lines L ---L through limit switch 43 and the normally closed contacts 29 of the safe relay. The on relay is thus rendered responsive and through its contacts 20 connects the relay 20R across lines L -L through the normally closed contacts I of the switch LM and the contacts 29 of the safe relay. The relay 2CR then functions as hereinbefore described to connect in circuit the coil of the reset relay, said reset it completes through its contacts 30 the circuit relay upon responding completing the circuit of the signal bell 52 and the flasher relay 5!. Also as in the first step of the inching cycle the reset relay energizes the stop relay which maintains itself and the reset relay for continued signaling independent of the on push button switch.

(b Release of the on push button switch disconnects the coil of the on relay, and said relay in dropping out disengages its contacts 20 to disconnect the coil of relay ZCR. Relay ZCR in dropping out functions through its contacts 2 to connect the coil of relay 30R across lines I L through the now closed contacts 8 of the stop relay and the contacts 29 of the safe relay. Relay 30R upon responding establishes a maintaining circuit for itself through its contacts 25.

Depression for a second time of the on" push button switch energizes the on relay as previously described, and said relay through its contacts 20 completes the circuit of the coil of the inch relay through the now closedcontacts 26 of relay 30R. This closes the switch SM to start the press and the pilot motor M is started by completion of a circuit jointly by the contacts ii of the on relay and the contacts 45 closed upon response of the switch SM. The pilot motor is thus caused to drive the crosshead 36 upwardly while the on push button switch is held depressed. The inch relay again energizes the relay SAI as aforedescribed, which results in discontinuing signaling. As the crosshead moves upwardly the switch SM drops out and the switch LM is energized to start the large motor and to maintain the contacts 45 closed. Further upward movement of the crosshead increases the speed of the large motor, the on push button switch being released when the desired speed has been obtained. To slow down the press the off push button switch is depressed to energize the off relay which upon responding functions through its contacts 21 to complete the circuit of the pilot motor M. for reverse operation. The reverse operation of the pilot motor to slow down the press may be terminated by releasing the off push button switch 38.

To stop the press when running the stop push button switch 40 is depressed, short-circuiting the coil of the stop relay and causing it to drop out. The stop relay in dropping out interrupts the common connection for the coils of the switches SM and LM and the coil of relay SAI, with the result that the various switches and relays again assume the position shown in Fig. 1.

Signaling during operation of the press by the large motor may be effected at any time by depressing the inch button. This energizes the coil of the reset relay through contacts Id of the relay ZCR and the contacts 2 of the switch LM, the reset contacts 23 being thus closed to complete the signal circuit which remains closed .until the inch button is released to deenergize the relay ZCR, which in turn deenergizes the reset relay.

When at rest the press may be made safe by closing the push button switch 4|. This connects the coil of the safe relay directly across lines L --L and response of said relay opens at its contacts 29 the common connection for the inch relay and the on relay. Accordingly the press cannot be restarted until the switch 4| is re-opened. When the safe relay responds of the safe lights 53.

Pushing of the safe button with the press in operation prevents further acceleration in press speed for the energizing circuit of the on relay is then opened at the contacts 29 of the safe relay. When the stop relay drops out while the crosshead 36 occupies a position other than that depicted in Fig. 1 said relay through its contacts I connects in circuit the coil of the off relay through limit switch 44. This effects return of the crosshead to the position shown, whereupon limit switch it opens to deenergize the off relay.

If after the inch button or the on button is depressed for signaling it is decided not to inch or run, as the case may be, signaling may be stopped by depressing the stop button or the safe button. Depression of either of the latter buttons restores the relays to the positions shown whereby the press cannot thereafter be started without double operation of the inch button or the on button.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a motor controller, the combination with starting and stopping means including a manually operable switch and means functioning on stopping after inching or running to require said switch to be twice operated toeffect starting thereby, of signaling means responsive to the first operation of said manual switch.

2. In a motor controller, the combination with starting and stopping means including a manually operable push button switch and means functioning on stopping after inching or running to require said switch to be depressed, released and again depressed to effect starting thereby, of signaling means responsive to said switch when first depressed.

3. In a motor controller, the combination with starting and stopping means including a manually operable switch and means functioning on stopping after inching or running to require said switch to be twice operated to effect starting thereby, of signaling means controlled by the former means for response to the first operation of said switch and for continued action pending the second operation of said switch.

4. In a motor controller, the combination with starting and stopping means including a push button operated switch and means requiring said switch to be depressed, released and again depressed to effect starting thereby, of signaling means controlled by the first mentioned means and affording signaling when said switch is first depressed and until said switch is released and again depressed, said first mentioned means affording automatic arrest of the action of said signaling means.

5. In a motor controller, the combination with starting and stopping means including a manually operable inching switch and means requiring said switch to 'be twice operated to effect starting for each step of inching, of signaling means controlled by said first mentioned means to afford signaling when said switch is first operated and until said switch is again operated.

6. In a motor controller, the combination with starting and stopping means including a push button switch for inching and means requiring said switch to be depressed, released and again depressed to effect starting for each step of inching, of signaling means controlled by said first mentioned means to afford signaling when said switch is first depressed and until said switch is released and again depressed, said first men tioned means providing for automatic arrest of the action of said signaling means upon completion of the starting cycle.

'7. In a motor controller, the combination with starting and stopping means including a manually operable switch for inching, a separate manually operable switch for running and means whereby starting may be effected by either of said switch-es but only when twice operated, of signaling means controlled by said first mentioned means for response upon first actuation of either of said switches to afford signaling pending completion of the starting cycle.

8. In a motor controller, the combination with starting and stopping means including a push button switch for inching, a separate push button switch for running and means to render either of said switches effective for starting but only after it has been depressed, released and again depressed, of signaling means controlled by said first mentioned means for response upon first depression of either of said switches and for arrest of its action upon completion of the starting cycle.

9. In a motor controller, the combination with starting and stopping means including a manual switch to direct starting and means functioning on stopping to render said switch ineffective for starting until it is twice actuated but rendering it effective at once on its second actuation, of means affording signaling when said switch is first actuated.

10. In a motor controller, the combination with starting and stopping means including a manual switch to effect inching, a separate manual switch to effect running, and means functioning on stopping to render each of said switches ineffective for starting until it is twice actuated, but rendering it effective at once on its second actuation, of means affording signaling when either of said switches is first actuated.

11. In a motor controller, in combination, a manual switch and starting and stopping means responsive to said switch to start and stop for inching, and including means functioning on stopping to render said switch ineffective for starting until it is twice actuated, but rendering it effective at once on its second actuation.

1-2. In a motor controller, in combination, separate manual switches and starting and stopping means responsive to one of said switches to start and stop for inching and responsive to another of said switches to effect running, said starting and stopping means including means functioning on stopping to render each of said switches ineffective for star-ting until it is twice actuated, but rendering each effective at once on its second operation.

13. In a motor controller, in combination separate push button switches and starting and stopping means responsive to one of said switches to start and stop for inching and responsive to another of said switches to effect running, said starting and stopping means including means functioning on stopping to render each of said push button switches inefiective for starting until it is depressed, released and again depressed, but rendering each effective at once on its second depression, and means affording signaling when either of said switches is first depressed.

14. In a controller for a double motor drive, in combination manual control means, starting and stopping means responsive to said manual means to elfect inching or running selectively, and including means functioning on stopping to render said manual means ineffective for starting until twice actuated, but rendering said manual means effective at once on the second actuation thereof, and means affording signaling upon first actuation of said manual means Whether for inching or running.

CYRIL P. FELDHAUSEN. 

